5 no-brainer Mets roster decisions to make this offseason

It doesn’t take years of sitting in a general manager’s chair to know these New York Mets roster decisions are the direction to go. Every fan can plainly see how vital it is for the club to welcome, part ways with, and continue relationships by making these five no-brainer roster decisions in the offseason.

1) It’s a no-brainer for the NY Mets to extend Pete Alonso

If Avril Lavigne was starting her career today, we’d swear Sk8er Boi was about the Mets needing to extend Pete Alonso. Could anything be any more obvious?

Talks of possibly trading Alonso this year seemed to creep up out of nowhere. The legitimacy seems to be there, however, exactly how close the Mets ever got to dealing away their star first baseman is up for debate.

Cooler heads have prevailed. After an incredibly negative response from the fans at the mere thought of selling Alonso, it does appear those rumors have been tossed in the trash alongside the pamphlets we find in our mailbox we swear were sent from a cult. Seriously. Try Googling the return address. You’ll find an empty lot sometimes.

What isn’t empty is what Alonso brings to the Mets. His power and run production are among the best in baseball. Even in a year where he doesn’t hit for a high average, the Polar Bear contributes in major ways. He’s what this lineup needs in the center of it and not just in 2024.

Alonso at least seems to enjoy being a member of the Mets. The two sides need to work it out. Nobody wants to head into next year unsure of what the following season will hold.

2) It’s a no-brainer for the NY Mets to outbid everyone for Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has become the top free agent target for Mets fans. Many of us haven’t watched a game of his outside of a few highlights. We’re busy people. We trust the numbers, the accolades, and the people who insist he’s going to help save this rotation.

It’s the starting rotation where the Mets need the most assistance. Other than Kodai Senga and maybe Jose Quintana, there isn’t a whole lot to like about what they can offer. Sure, we can hold our breath for a youngster like Mike Vasil to help out. A more obvious approach is to land one of the best free agent pitchers out there, Yamamoto.

Yamamoto slides in nicely for a couple of reasons that don’t even require a deeper dive. Coming over from Japan, his familiarity with the six-man rotation matches well with Senga. The Mets could and probably should consider going with one on a regular basis while using the off-days to occasionally skip over their weaker arms.

There’s also the matter of the qualifying offer. Because he’s not an active MLB player, it’s not available to him. The Mets won’t lose a draft pick by signing him. Automatically, this makes him a top target of theirs.

3) It’s a no-brainer for the NY Mets to say goodbye to Daniel Vogelbach

The Mets already said goodbye to most of their free agents at the trade deadline. Daniel Vogelbach is one they can non-tender this offseason. His contract situation was a bit unique and included an option for the 2023 season. He does still have a year of arbitration eligibility. His 2023 performance and abilities make it a no-brainer decision to move on.

Vogelbach was never an exceptional fit for the Mets and maybe not for all that many teams. A first baseman who doesn’t play the field, can only hit against right-handed pitchers, and struggles to run the bases isn’t in high-demand.

The Mets do have a few other no-brainer players to let leave. Carlos Carrasco is a pending free agent who has pitched his way out of Queens and maybe even into retirement. At a low rate, some team might take a chance on him. It shouldn’t be the blue and orange.

There is some slight irony in how these two players with options managed to struggle so mightily in 2023. They’ve taken turns as the scapegoat for the offense and starting pitching weaknesses. A large part of the blame comes down due to the warning signs already there. The Mets got bit by keeping both around.

4) It’s a no-brainer for the NY Mets to stock up on bullpen help

Here’s the hardest area to build: the bullpen. This isn’t a rarity for any major league team. Assembling a crack team of relief pitchers is the toughest goal of all for general managers of all shapes and sizes. The Mets caught an unlucky break this year with Edwin Diaz going down in the WBC on the Ides of March. Would his presence have made enough of a difference? Likely not. They’d be closer to .500 but not climbing up the playoff ladder.

Stockpiling bullpen help is an absolute must for the Mets regardless of what their ultimate goal is for the 2024 season. Even if those intentions aren’t to be “all in” they should be in the market for some relief pitchers. The reason is to give themselves more pieces to swap at the trade deadline when things go south.

The Mets give themselves zero chance at a championship next year without improving the bullpen. It’s an area they must attack along with adding to the starting rotation. Because relief pitchers are constantly changing teams, getting analyzed differently from their peers, and not chasing the biggest of contracts, it’s a possible mission to accomplish.

Whether they sign guys to one or two year deals, a heavy focus this offseason for this ball club is to build up the bullpen. Otherwise they’re backing themselves up against the wall.